The Dan Patrick Show: C&R – Niners Unstoppable & Idaho Dilemma

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Steve Covino and Rich Davis
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich on The Dan Patrick Show swings from high-energy NFL chatter—especially on the San Francisco 49ers' recent dominance—to holiday family dynamics and sports pop-culture debates. Live from Idaho during the holidays, Steve Covino and Rich Davis bring their signature banter, plenty of humor, and a few deep thoughts about classic moments in sports and entertainment. They also dissect the nuances of post-game jersey swaps, the awkwardness of family board game time, and whether cherished traditions truly stand the test of time.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. San Francisco 49ers: Unstoppable Force?

[04:45–13:56]

• Offensive Prowess: Rich beams about his "Niner gang" and the team's explosive offense, highlighted by barely punting since late November:
  • "What is it, a no punt November and December for these guys? They're unstoppable. Their offense looks insane." (Covino, 04:47)
• Quarterback Duel: Brock Purdy impresses, with a memorable moment post-game showing mutual respect with Philip Rivers:
  • "I see a young Purdy saying, hey, man, I watched you growing up. It's an honor playing with you." (Covino, 06:36)
• Defensive Concerns:
  • Without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, the 49ers lack pass rush:
    • "My only concern for a really good night as a 49ers fan, is I don't know if you get away with that versus Caleb Williams." (Rich, 08:06)
• Playoff Outlook:
  • The next big test is hosting the Bears; a win sets up a potential battle for the #1 seed in Week 18 versus Seahawks.
    • "If the Niners win that game, week 18 against the Seahawks will be for the 1 seed." (Rich, 12:05)
  • Importance of George Kittle’s health discussed (mid to low ankle sprain).

2. The Philip Rivers Comeback

[05:27–11:25]

• Admiration for Rivers:
  • Both hosts are glad Rivers didn’t get embarrassed and that “it was the best of both worlds” (Rich, 09:26).
  • Lighthearted moment on Rivers' large family:
    • “Babe, those are just his kids.” (Covino, 09:29)
• Backup Quarterback Tall Order:
  • No backup QB could be expected to beat the Seahawks and 49ers back-to-back.

3. Covino’s Idaho Family Dilemma & the Board Game Divide

[13:56–17:18 & 49:56–50:57]

• Board Game Anxiety:
  • Covino describes being out of place amid family board games in Idaho:
    • “I get so bored from those games. Dude, that’s why they’re called board games.” (Covino, 15:36)
  • Rich argues game nights should not feel awkward.
• Cultural Difference:
  • They note that families bond in radically different ways—some via games, some via shared sports or just conversation.

4. Jersey Swap Etiquette and the Hierarchy of Respect

[17:18–24:55]

• Who Swaps Jerseys with Whom?
  • Rich raises the etiquette of post-game jersey swaps—does a star player have to accept every request?
    • Covino: “It’s got to be a mutual respect. ... You’re not gonna just jersey swap with everyone that requests it.” (22:01)
  • Real-life example: SGA reportedly denied a swap with Miles Bridges last NBA season (Danny G, 20:50).
  • Larger point about social dynamics and respect:
    • “When you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.” (Covino, 22:19)

5. Holiday Traditions, Pop Culture, and the Test of Time

[31:39–38:02, 47:46–51:09]

• Classic Movies:
  • Covino questions whether “It’s a Wonderful Life” stands the test of time for younger viewers—he’s hesitant to push it on his girlfriend’s younger family.
    • “I don’t want all this unnecessary pressure in case everybody hates it. Like it might be too slow moving for young people's eyes.” (Covino, 49:57)
• Parallels to Sports:
  • They draw analogies to classic moments in sports—are such moments as meaningful to newer generations or do we just cherish them out of nostalgia?
• Holiday Sports TV:
  • Covino plugs his TV appearance on a History Channel special and jokes about the indifference of family:
    • “Imagine if your dad was on TV...no one gives a turd about your boy.” (Covino, 37:31)

6. Other Notable Segments

• Board Game Banter Turns to Trivia:
  • Who performed the classic “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12” track from Sesame Street? Covino delivers: “The Pointer Sisters.” (48:59)
• NFL Pro Bowl Announcements:
  • Coverage of this season's Pro Bowlers, noting quirky stats like only a handful of actual fullbacks being selected (Kyle Juszczyk for 49ers, 40:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• 04:47 | Covino: “What is it, a no punt November and December for these guys? They're unstoppable. Their offense looks insane.”
• 06:36 | Covino: “I see a young Purdy saying, hey, man, I watched you growing up. It's an honor playing with you.”
• 09:29 | Covino: "Babe, those are just his kids." (On Rivers’ family filling the luxury box)
• 15:36 | Covino: “I get so bored from those games. Dude, that’s why they’re called board games.”
• 22:01 | Covino: “You’re not gonna just jersey swap with everyone that requests it.”
• 22:19 | Covino: “When you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.”
• 31:31 | Covino: “No one gives a turd about your boy.” (On family indifference to his TV appearance)
• 49:57 | Covino: “I don’t want all this unnecessary pressure in case everybody hates it. Like it might be too slow moving for young people's eyes.”
• 48:59 | Covino: “The Pointer Sisters.” (Revealing the Sesame Street song performers)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-------------------------------------------| | 04:45–13:56 | Deep dive: 49ers’ dominance, Rivers’ night| | 13:56–17:18 | Board game awkwardness in Idaho | | 17:18–24:55 | Jersey swap etiquette and dynamics | | 31:39–38:02 | Holiday classics, sports TV, nostalgia | | 40:33–41:52 | NFL Pro Bowl rosters and updates | | 46:57–47:22 | NFL: D Winner’s pick-six vs Colts | | 47:46–51:09 | “It’s a Wonderful Life” dilemma & classics|

Tone & Style

True to Covino and Rich’s energetic and relatable style, the episode mixes sports insights with good-natured ribbing and cultural commentary. There’s a persistent undercurrent of self-deprecating humor (“no one gives a turd about your boy”), a playful resistance to holiday tradition (especially from Covino), and thoughtful asides on what makes rituals and moments—on the field and off—really matter.

Summary

This episode is essential listening for 49ers fans in the holiday afterglow of another big win but also resonates more broadly as a humorous meditation on sports fandom, family traditions, and the ways respect (and fun) are negotiated from the gridiron to the living room. The conversations around jersey swaps, board game dread, and the legacy of “It’s a Wonderful Life” provide cultural flavor, while Pro Bowl picks and play-of-the-day highlights keep it firmly rooted in the week’s sports action.